Kaiser Richmond Pre-op

[swrktp 1]

Riley what is going on? Why didn't you have this lab ordered way before surgery? Who called you Bariatrics or your PCP? Wow I just had my lab test (blood and EKG) and kinda wonderd why I didn't get the chest x ray and sleep apnea either? Maybe I will be getting a call as well. So what is this sleep test anyway? Wow that is kinda shocking. Something new to deal with huh and another reason to get banded!! Just alot to deal with here at the very end. I don't have symptoms but I do snore so..............good luck, let me knot how it all turns out. Would love to hear about her pre surg appointment as well.

[riley4183 0]

Heck if I know what happened! I took the screening test (Epworth questionnaire) in early November with the rest of my 14-week class, all but 2 of us got called within a week to come in and pick up the equipment for an overnight sleep study, most of them already knew that they had apnea . . . . i am one of the lowest BMIs in there and do not have symptoms, so I just figured I screened negative. I did write "but I snore!" on the questionnaire . . . so anyway, everyone else in my class has now been treated for apnea for at least 2 months, which is what they require before you can get your CM appointment. Well the day AFTER I had my CM appointment - my surgery already scheduled for less than a month out - the pulmonology department at kaiser santa rosa calls and says you have to come in for a sleep study, we have an opening this afternoon can you come, of course I argued that I did not need it, but they said fine then just go ahead and do this test and we will leave you alone, right now it is in your records that you need it, so I went to the class and got the tester and did it that night and the next morning I go to the website and there is an appointment for me to go to a class to learn about sleep apnea on like the 13th, which means i tested positive so I called and they finally told me my results and are getting me in to get the trial CPAP machine on Tuesday instead of 2 weeks from now. I don't know if they lost my paperwork, or forgot me or someone else suddenly decided that I needed a sleep test, or what but here I am! If they still want 2 months of treatment then my surgery date is going to get moved up to March or April, and I am very discouraged after I worked so hard and everyone arranged their time off around my surgery date. NOT HAPPY :thumbup:

Edited February 1, 2009 by riley4183

[swrktp 1]

HEy Riley. Let me know how it goes. I hope they still go with the original surgery date if that is safe. My guess is that they can still get it done but that someone messed up somewhere. I had the same with my paperwork getting lost at the beginning of the referral process and I had to call in to make sure I got an appointments. With Kaiser it seems like you have to advocate for yourself sometimes or else you get lost in the numbers.

You know Dr. Baggs asked me about sleep apnea stuff and I snore but nothing else. BUt it sounds like with you that was enough to diagnose you. He didn't say anything about needing a test but I will go to the CM appointment next week and maybe it will come up there.

I have already been thinking that something is going to happened to stop the process. All the lab tests. The EKG. I just keep thinking that something will show up I don' know about to prevent my progress.

LE me know how it goes. Maybe you should call bariatrics tomorrow and see what they have to say.

[riley4183 0]

Dr. Baggs asked me about snoring too, as I had checked it on the form . . he asked if I was sleepy during the day (no), had ever fallen asleep while driving (no), woke of gasping (no) or if I ever woke up with a headache (no). No symptome outside of the snoring.

Have you been screened for apnea? Its a little questionnaire called the epworth scale Epworth sleepiness scale - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia . . . I had classes I had to take at my kaiser, they screened everyone in my 14-week class for it, twice even. I was always under 10 but I wrote on there that I snore so I guess that triggered them, even tho Dr. Baggs was not concerned. In any case, better if it's diagnosed because folks with untreated apnea can have difficulties coming out of anesthesia, and my single biggest fear is not waking up . . . . so I am glad they found it, just not glad that they did not get me in for 2 and a hald months. Jerks.

[riley4183 0]

Dr. Baggs asked me about snoring too, as I had checked it on the form . . he asked if I was sleepy during the day (no), had ever fallen asleep while driving (no), woke of gasping (no) or if I ever woke up with a headache (no). No symptome outside of the snoring.

Have you been screened for apnea? Its a little questionnaire called the epworth scale Epworth sleepiness scale - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia . . . I had classes I had to take at my kaiser, they screened everyone in my 14-week class for it, twice even. I was always under 10 but I wrote on there that I snore so I guess that triggered them, even tho Dr. Baggs was not concerned. In any case, better if it's diagnosed because folks with untreated apnea can have difficulties coming out of anesthesia, and my single biggest fear is not waking up . . . . so I am glad they found it, just not glad that they did not get me in for 2 and a half:unsure: months. Jerks.

[swrktp 1]

I have not been officially screened but I did take the epworth test with my PCP before. I just wonder since I snore ya know......... Also worried about the EKG since I have heart pain occasionally. MY PCP said it was stress related and nothing to worry about. But I do. I think the EKG looks normal but I am no doctor. Now I am a bit worried about the apnea thing as well.

I probably won't have surgery until March or early April so I have time to do the test. I will talk to Liz next Monday about it and maybe I will see Dr. Baggs again that day?

I trust Dr. Baggs more than my PCP actually and tend to go with what he says. My PCP is new out of med school and still learning the ropes.

I am getting pretty nervous about the whole surgery thing. I want to do it but I am scared of all the complications and the possible pain. I think for me the biggest hurtle will be crossed when I wake up in the recovery room and finally know for myself how bad or not it is/was!!

Good luck I hope it all works out but I agree if you need to wait a bit to address the sleep apnea than it is better to be safe!!

You still going to pre op on Thursday??

[riley4183 0]

Yes, I still plan to go to my pre-op classes on Thursday, and will talk to Liz and I also have my pre-op exam with Tom Greenwood that day, he goes over EVERYthing and hopefully will be able to guide me! The only thing that I am putting off until I hear for sure is the pre-op lab work, because it is only good for 30 days and if they push it to late March I would have to do it twice. But I am so discouraged that I've gained 2 pounds back! My first trial . . . .

[swrktp 1]

Hey Riley hope it goes well and things work out.

I got my labs done this week but I dont plan to have surgery until I get back from AFrica the end of March. I think that will be past my 30 days. I thought it was more like a 60 day window. So I may end up having to redo them all.

So Dr. Baggs doesn't do the physical? It Tom Greenwood your doctor or through the Bariatrics? Will you see him the same day that you get the pre op classes? So the classes are 8-12 and you stay on in the afternoon for the physical?

I see Liz next week. I will have alot of questions for her I am sure!! I just wonder since I can't have surgery until late March if I am to soon in getting my CM appointment and getting my labs?

I haven't lost anymore weight either :-( For me knowing I have to wait until after vacation makes it hard to believe I am really that close to surgery. I didn't gain but I also didn't lose and the head hunger was crazy this weekend with the superbowl parties. I think I need to really be strict with pre op diet as any carbs even if I am under the 1200 cal per day, seems to prevent me from losing. Gonna try to get to the gym 7 days instead of the usualy 3 this week and see if that helps.

Good luck. PUlling for ya!! 36 is still a great weight loss so far though. I am impressed. I wish I was there with ya but I will be soon.

[riley4183 0]

The labs that have the 30 day window are the final ones, which Liz orders for you at your CM appointment when you get your surgery date. She puts a lock on them so they do not show up as required until 30 days before your surgery date -so you will be fine. The ones that you just did are the ones that you HAVE to do to see Liz; she reviews them with you.

You are SURE to lose weight in Africa, you will be working hard, drinking a TON of Water, and probably scared of lots of the native foods! You're going to lose, I'm just sure of it!:tongue:

[swrktp 1]

Wow more lab test?? I thought I had alot already. Of course I have alot of blood test through my PCP in November before I get referred to Richmond. I think since November I have had 30+ lab tests done now. I am not gonna have any blood left in me!!

At least the EKG is good for 90 days. I always stress about the results until I see I am in the "normal" ranges.

I will lose in Africa. I better lose in Africa or at least not gain. I am right at goal weight and can't seem to get any lower. It has been a week at the same weight. Ahh........I want to be under at least by 5-10 pounds.

Let me know how your appointment goes? So you have a physical after all the pre opt classes? That is gonna be a really long day. I need to plan ahead I guess for that. I am guessing I will go to that class in the next two weeks, before I leave for AFrica.

Best of luck. By the time I get banded you will be a month out and I will have so many questions!!

Edited February 3, 2009 by swrktp

[AudsMom 2]

Ok So I had my meeting with my CM last wed, and well, it didn't go as well as anticipated, got one question wrong on the test which was good, but i left double questioning my decision.

I was offered March 3, but i have Las Vegas March 22 so that wasn't going to work.. So now its March 31.

The cm ordered me an additional ekg to check on my last one, and more blood, eek:)

Well that is my update:D

[swrktp 1]

Hello Aud

So what has you second guessing your decision? Is the CM appointment that bad? I have one on Monday. I am hoping for March 31 as well or a week after but not sure yet.

What is going on with the EKG? I had one but can't read it. Is the second one just a double check on the first one or was something wrong.

So......any last words before I head into my appointment?

[swrktp 1]

Maybe we will be in the pre op class together Aud? Do you also get your pre op physical that day as well?

[AudsMom 2]

HI,

Well she was adimet about no babies which made me sad, and i just got a weired Vibe i was very uncomfortable. When you eat btw, dont mix anything, ur one slice of toast needs to be ate AFTER the tuna.. And i have been mixing them, and she said we need to stop doing that.

My ekg was abnormal, so we gotta do another one.

My appt w/baggs and the nurse is Fri 13th

[riley4183 0]

Nicole, is Liz your Case Manager? She can be a little hard to warm up to, but she's only so strict because she wants you to be safe and successful. She really does . . .